I hope everyone who reads this is enjoying it :) I'd like to ask for more feedback if everyone would be kind enough to do so. I would just like to know what everyone thinks of it. Like it, hate it, or what have you lol. Many thanks to Etsuki-chan for her loyal reading and reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. Serina, Kelgar, Matilda, Ralir and the storyline are mine.

Chapter 8

Matilda wrung her hands, worried to death. She knew that the king would be furious with her and Kelgar over Serina's actions of late. She was simply too old to deal with this sort of thing. Shaking her head and sighing, the old maid reached out and knocked on the heavy wooden door to the king's office. His voice called out from the other side for her to enter as the door swung silently open.

"What is it Matilda?" He looked up from the stack of papers he had been going over, noticing that the woman was so agitated that she forgot to curtsy when she entered. He groaned inwardly, knowing that whatever she wanted had to do with Serina and that it would not be any good.

"It's…" She paused and took a deep breath. "It's Lady Serina your Majesty."

He sighed and sat back, rubbing his gloved fingers across his forehead. It had been three weeks since he'd ordered her confined to her rooms and he had steadfastly refused any contact with her. Even the others were not allowed to discuss her in his presence. Leaning forward, Jareth picked up one of the papers and began reading over it again. "What of her?"

"I- we fear she is…" Matilda broke off, unable to continue as she caught the cold look in the king's eyes.

"What exactly is she doing?"

"S-she won't eat your Majesty. Neither Kelgar or myself have been able to get her to eat anything since you confined her to her rooms. All she does is sleep or sit there in the window, staring out over the lands." The maid looked at him with pleading eyes, "We fear that she's lost all will to live your Majesty."

"Leave me." Jareth snapped, his eyes still on the papers before him. Matilda paled at his harsh tone and left the room as quickly as her old bones would allow. When the door clicked shut behind her, Jareth summoned a crystal and peered into it. Muttering a curse, he slammed the crystal against the wall and vanished.

"My lady, you must eat." Kelgar stood beside Serina as she lay curled up in a ball on her massive bed, holding a tray of food. Since she had been confined to her rooms, the woman had withdrawn into herself.

"I'm not hungry." Her tone was the same as it had been for the past three weeks, flat and unemotional. Nothing they said or done received anything more. The healer was at his wits end, he could heal the body, but not the mind or spirit. And Serina's spirit was dying and he was at a loss as to what to do.

Jareth appeared behind him with a loud snap and Kelgar jumped. The woman laying on the bed never even blinked, as if she was completely unaware of the things going on around her. He turned to look at Jareth, "I see Matilda told you what was happening." The king only nodded, his mismatched gaze fastened on Serina as he studied her.

He stepped past Kelgar and grabbed the woman's arm, tugging her over to face them. Her skin was paler than the last time he had seen her and her cheeks sunken. The skin under her eyes looked bruised and she was cold to the touch. If he hadn't felt the rapid pulse under her skin, he'd have thought she was dead. "What is the meaning of this?" he snarled.

"She's withdrawn into herself Jareth. We haven't been able to get a reaction of any kind out of her since that day. There is nothing more I can do." Kelgar replied, his voice full of sorrow.

"I left her in your care Kelgar! How could you allow this to happen?" Jareth snapped furiously at him. Kelgar fell back a step in shock, Jareth had never yelled at him before and it was shocking.

"My Lord, I would have prevented this if I could have. I cannot heal the spirit or mind. Only she can do that."

"Leave us." Jareth's voice was harder than Kelgar had ever heard before. He sputtered in shock as he backed towards the door. His back thumping into the wood and he jumped, spinning around he rushed through the doorway, leaving the door to close on its own. Jareth studied her for a moment before making a crystal. He dropped the crystal on the bed and a tray appeared, loaded with food.

"Serina, you need to eat."

"I'm not hungry." she whispered blandly.

Jareth growled in frustration as he reached down and yanked her up against him. "You will eat woman. I'll not have you starving to death in my castle."

Her eyes flared to life as she tried to twist away from him, but his strength was greater. Hatred filled her for the man holding her so easily. "Get your hands off me you spawn of a rock faced ogre! Send me home NOW!" Her voice went from a whisper to an outraged scream.

Jareth tilted his head and smirked at her. "Tsk tsk. Such language for a lady isn't becoming. No matter, at least you're reacting now."

"Go to hell!" She snarled viciously.

"Eat and I just might kitten."

"Don't call me that."

He grinned at her, watching as she flexed her fingers. With a laugh, he dropped her back against the pillows. "If you insist on sinking your claws into me, my little cat, you need to get your strength back first." Serina growled at him, her eyes narrowed angrily as she watched him walk away from her. Groping across the bed, her fingers touched the tray. She grabbed the first thing her hand touched and threw it at him. Smiling evilly when the bowl shattered against his back. In a flash, Jareth was kneeling over her, pressing her down against the bed. "Continue to anger me and you will regret it Kitten."

"Go to hell!"

"I will force feed you if I must, my lady." Serina only glared up at him defiantly. "Very well kitten. If you insist." Jareth smirked as he dragged both her arms above her head and secured them with a spell. He merely smirked as Serina's emerald eyes grew large in shock before blazing with savage fury. He jumped quickly out of the way when one of her bare feet lashed out towards his head. Shaking his head, he gave her a feral grin as he caught her feet. "You are certainly full of surprises aren't you kitten?" He smiled as he straddled her hips, her eyes growing wide in horror for a second before they narrowed into icy slits. "And just what is running through that mind of yours kitten?" He taunted her as he leaned over her.

Jareth glanced over the tray before waving his hand, dismissing it. An instant later another tray appeared in its place. "This time, you'll not have the chance to throw your food, instead you will eat every bit of it." He picked up a spoon and stirred it through one of the dishes before grabbing her jaw and forcing her to take the broth. Serina waited till he released her jaw before spitting it back into his face.

His hand automatically drew back and he backhanded her across the face, her head snapping hard to the side. He sat there stunned at his actions for a moment, staring at her. He had never struck a woman before and was disgusted at himself for it. Slowly, Serina turned her head and looked up at him, her eyes glinting with pure hatred as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth. Suddenly she started laughing and he looked at her in worry. "I fail to find this situation even remotely amusing."

Serina stopped laughing, her eyes still filled with rage. "You are an ass. Do you treat all your prisoners like this?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I have told you before that you are not a prisoner here Serina. You are a guest in my castle."

"An unwilling guest. Why can you not just send me home to where I belong?"

"Eat this first and then I shall attempt to explain again. Perhaps this time you will understand." They stared at each other for a few more minutes before she finally dropped her eyes to the bowl he still held and nodded. Jareth sighed in relief, though it was short lived.